Noise level measurement and its effects on hospital employees based on complaint reports

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to assess the noise level in different environments of a public hospital and to analyze its effects on employees from reporting complaints.

Methods:

a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectioned study. To survey data, we used a Minipa(r) decibelimeter adjusted in the range 40-130 decibels positioned in different hospital departments in different shifts for a week to evaluate noise levels and an adapted questionnaire that was applied to employees.

Results:

the level of noise introduced minimum of 52.5 decibels in the Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a maximum of 85 decibels in the women's ward with a significant difference between the different days of the week during the same turn. The same occurred in the emergency room, but did not show significance in other sectors. Employees feel discomfort to loud sounds, 74.4%, and 35.5% feel sick after hours due to stress caused by noise that is produced by multiple devices combined with the sounds of alarms, works, visits and schedules conversation between the hospital staff.

Conclusion:

noise levels are above the recommended levels in different sectors and professionals manifest discomfort and tinnitus before and after their exposure.

Keywords:
Noise; Public Hospital; Occupational Risks